Family Archives - Page 2 of 5

How to Pray for Your Family by Pastor Raymond Wicks

Kayleen Dreesman on February 7, 2020

Following are some lists to help guide you in praying for your spouse and/or child.

Praying for Wife

God would help me as her husband to be what I need to be.
God would help protect her spirit.
God would help with her physical needs.
God would help her spiritually.
God would grant her desires.
God would help her to see her worth—as woman, wife, and mother.
God would help her with her greatest need.
Give thanks for her.
Holy Spirit to help in areas we don’t know about.

Praying for Husband

God would help me as his wife to be what I need to be.
God would help him spiritually—fear of God, faith, humility.
God would give him wisdom and understanding.
God would help him with his work.
God would help him with his physical needs.
God would help him with his greatest need.
God would grant his desires.
Give thanks for him.
Holy Spirit to help in areas we don’t know about.

Praying for Children

God would help me as their parent to be what I need to be.
God would help their heart to be tender towards parents, God, reproof, and right.
God would help them to be saved—thank God if they are.
God would prepare and lead them to the right spouse.
God would help them in spiritual growth—mature in character–know and serve God.
God would place hedge of protection and hedge of thorns as needed.
God would help them to know and do the will of God.
God would help them with any special needs.
Thank God for them.
Holy Spirit to help in areas we don’t know about.

Praying for Future Spouse

God would have His will with my marriage plans—who/when.
God would help our influences—parents, pastor, teachers, and friends.
God would give us protection from sin.
God would give us proper preparation.
God would help us to continue a godly heritage.

Why Don’t Your Children Behave?

support on May 30, 2018

Have you ever looked at other people’s children and wondered why they’re so well behaved, while your children aren’t? Can you take your children to a restaurant and make it through a meal without being frustrated? Can you have a conversation with another adult without being interrupted? We’ve all been there, we’ve all been frustrated with our kids and struggled with how to make them behave.

I’ll let you in on a little secret… Everyone’s children misbehave. The trick is to TRAIN them to obey. Obedient children don’t happen by magic or accident. I can’t promise that training will always work, but I guarantee you, that it WILL drastically improve your child’s obedience.

Before they can understand why they need to obey, children must be taught to have a heart for obedience. The Bible tells us in Ephesians 6:1, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” In our home, our children love Jesus and they love being able to memorize bible verses. One of the very first verses that they learned was Ephesians 6:1. We repeat it often; this is because they need to understand that God wants them to obey their parents, just as He wants all of us to obey Him. Our obedience to God shows our love for Him.

Here are a few simple ideas to help you train your children to obey.

First, teach them HOW to LISTEN!

Children have to be able to LISTEN in order to obey. Have you ever heard of the concept of whole body listening? No? Me either, until a few years ago… If you google, “whole body listening definition,” it explains how one gives different parts of the body a specific job. This enables one to focus on what is being said and really absorb it. It uses parts of the body that the speaker can see (ears, eyes, mouth, and hands), as well as those the speaker cannot see (i.e. the brain and heart). Basically, you are teaching your child how to focus themselves on what you want them to do. I can easily incorporate whole body listening by asking my children to “Give Me 5.” This teaches them what I expect from them to show they are actively listening. This way, they’re not distracted, they can hear the words I say AND actually comprehend the direction given.

Once they learn how to listen, they need to practice! You want them to develop this skill well enough for it to become second nature. My favorite way to do this, is through games. We’ve all played Telephone before. That’s a great way to start. Another idea is to play the “Tell Me What I Said Game,” (directions: http://mosswoodconnections.com/activities/new-auditory-processing-activities/tell-me-what-i-said/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_tribes&utm_content=tribes)

Make it fun for them! All kids love games!

Then Teach them HOW to OBEY!

Once children fully grasp how to listen, they need to be trained to obey. If your children do not come to you when you say to come, they aren’t fully obedient. Think about this, if you tell your child to come to you at home and they don’t, no biggie, right? WRONG! If you don’t train them to obey while you’re in the home, what will happen when you’re in a parking lot, or in front of a car, but they run the opposite direction? That’s a scenario that no one wants to be in. So what’s the solution? Training! Kids love fun and games. So we train them to obey with fun and games!

The most successful way I’ve seen this accomplished is what I affectionately refer to as “Puppy Training.” Everyone knows you train a new puppy to obey with simple commands such as: sit, stay, and come. Not everyone knows that this works well for little human babies too! Teach your child to obey your command by standing a few feet away and telling them to come to you. When the child obeys, make a huge deal by lavishing them with praise. Repeat a few times and then back farther away. Repeat. And repeat. And repeat…. As many times/days/weeks as it takes. If your child learns, but then starts to forget, train them again! The ultimate goal is that your child should come to you whenever you call to them without any questions or hesitations.

Here is a link to other games that work well for teaching obedience.https://www.triumphantlearning.com/teach-child-obey-games/

The biggest issue with my children’s obedience is when I have adult company over. They want to join in on the conversation so badly they can’t stand it! Someone once gave me some advice on how to handle that (obviously she could see I needed help!) and it has worked wonders for me! Teach your child that while you’re speaking to another adult, and they need your attention, they should place their hand on your arm. You will acknowledge them by placing your hand on top of theirs so they know you recognize their need. When you get to a stopping place in your conversation, acknowledge their turn by asking, “What did you need to say?” After practicing this a few times, my children got the hang of it! Of course, we still need reminders every now and then, but their interrupting has gotten so much better!

Like I said, I can’t promise that your children will become perfect little angels, but I can promise you that these training tools have worked wonders for my little ones!

4 Ways to Honor Your Mom by Pastor Raymond Wicks

Hannah on May 11, 2018

This Sunday, we will give recognition to some of the most special people in our lives, our mothers. My heart is filled with wonderful thoughts and memories of my mother; she passed away almost seven years ago. The Bible clearly teaches us to honor our parents. Exodus 20:12 “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” As we approach Mother’s Day, here are a few practical tips to help us honor our moms.

1. Brag on her.

Your mom does something better than anyone else you know. What is it? For example, my mom made the best pineapple sauce for ham and pork chops! My wife got the recipe and has now passed it on to our children. Every time we use that recipe, memories flood back to those special meals with Mom. Let others know about your mother’s amazing chocolate chip cookies or her sweet comforting smile or her incredibly soft hands. Maybe she is the most faithful, hard-working person you know. Maybe her selfless deeds for others should be recognized. Take a few moments right now and think about ways you can brag on your mom. Give her some well-deserved accolades.

2. Listen to her.

Early on I realized that there are only a few people that genuinely love us and have our success in mind. For many, that person is called “Mom.” With that in mind she certainly deserves our attention when she tries to teach us, correct us, or guide us. Don’t be too cool to listen to your mother.

In Proverbs 1:8 the Bible says “hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.” Proverbs 15:20 continues “a foolish man despiseth his mother.”

Listen to her. She is trying to help you. She probably has your best interest at stake.

3. Stay out of trouble.

Proverbs 10:1 says “a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.” Even as a young boy, I remember wanting to please my mom. I wanted her to be happy with my decisions and my life. One of the reasons I hired our current youth pastor is because he had a reputation of wanting to please his mother, even as a teen. Spare your mother from a lot of heartaches and embarrassment by simply doing right.

4. Be a success.

Give your mom a son or daughter she can be proud of. Make her child-rearing efforts worthwhile. My mom is now gone from this life, but she can look down from Heaven and see four successful children who owe a great amount of honor to a wonderful lady we called “Mom.” She deserves honor.

Happy Mother’s Day Mom!

10 Ways to Enjoy God When Life is Busy

MikeGlanzer on March 9, 2017

Many of us have good intentions when it comes to spending time with God. However there is often a long list of other things that can push this priority to the bottom of the pile. Family, work, school, sports, and other commitments can fill our days leaving little margin for the spiritual activities that really feed our souls. By not making time for God, we often leave ourselves empty, vulnerable to temptation, and without direction.

D.L. Moody, the nineteenth century founder of Moody Church and Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, recognized his need for God and once said, “the only way to keep a broken vessel full is to keep the faucet running.” So how do we “keep the faucet running” in the middle of a hectic schedule?

Here are some practical suggestions:

Use travel time. The AAA Foundation recently conducted an extensive survey to better understand the characteristics of today’s American drivers. In this study they reported that the average driver spends over 290 hours driving every year. That is the equivalent of seven 40-hour work weeks! All of this time spent on the road can be an excellent opportunity for us to pray — with your eyes OPEN, of course! Storing prayer cards in the sun visor or console can provide some quick prompts to help you get started.

Multitask. If you can cook dinner while watching a Netflix show or helping one of your children review for a spelling test, then you can multitask. This means you should also be able to listen to worship music while getting ready in the morning or to pray while doing other projects which don’t require your full mental attention. You can look for natural connections to help you remember — like asking God to clean your heart while you are cleaning the kitchen or praying for a child to grow in God’s grace while you are doing an errand related to that child.

Rise and Shine. Although multitasking is great, ideally it is a good idea to prioritize some focused time with God each day. One way to accomplish this is by waking up a little earlier each morning to read the Bible and pray. The house is usually quiet then, and having the automatic brew cycle set the night before will allow you to wake up to the smell and the warmth of coffee. For most people, the key to getting up earlier is simple — going to bed earlier. It starts there — the night before. Nothing else compares to prioritizing and enjoying these regular blocks of focused time with Him!

Get some exercise. Look for ways to strengthen your heart while strengthening your body by filling your mind with truth while exercising. One way to do this is by listening to Christian podcasts or audiobooks while exercising. This is also a quiet time to talk with God in prayer.

Memorize and Meditate. Even in the busiest times, it is possible to use wait times to work on memorizing Scripture. A Scripture memory card can easily be stuffed in one’s pocket or bag so that it is available during down times throughout the day. This might be while waiting for a client, sitting in a doctor’s office, or passing time in the after school pick-up line. Memorization is more than simply recalling words; it is a great way to meditate on God’s Word! There are some great apps out there to help with Scripture memory.

In the Moment Prayers. God doesn’t care where you are or how noisy it is when you call out to Him. You can ask Him for wisdom and patience while in your favorite overstuffed chair in the early moments of the morning, while waiting in traffic, or while pushing a two-seater truck-cart down aisle 12 at Target. He is always present – always desiring to help and guide you.

Prioritize Church. Getting to church can be a challenge if it is not already built in to your schedule, but being with other believers and hearing the teaching of God’s Word is an important part of every believer’s life. Paul refers to the church as a “body” in which we all play an important role (1 Corinthians 12:27). By making this time a priority, you contribute your part to the body and to bringing glory to God.

Spend Quality Time with Other Believers. The Bible includes many admonitions directed at the things believers are to be doing for “one another.” These include encouraging, praying for, building up, serving, and more. We cannot be doing these well unless we are spending quality time investing in friendships with other Christians. This does not mean that Christians only spend time in deep, serious talk. Instead they share life and laughter together often making it easier and more natural to talk about the things that deeply matter.

Serve. Philippians 2 explains that Jesus Himself came to this world as a servant, and in the same way, every believer is instructed to use the gifts God has given to serve others (1 Peter 4:10). Serving can be little things like helping people throughout your day or it can be done in a more planned way by regularly serving in a certain ministry through your church. By humbly giving of yourself to bless others, you offer a gift of worship to the Lord (Ephesians 6:7).

Ending the Day. As the day comes to a close, it is good to take a few moments to reflect back over your day. This is a great time to confess any sin which God brings to your mind and thank Him for the many blessings He brought throughout the day. When areas of concern come to mind, give them to the Lord asking for His wisdom and strength.

If you are not already in a regular habit of spending time with God, choose one or two these suggestions and get started this week. You were made with a desire to relate to God built deep into your DNA, and by making time for this important priority, you will find great fulfillment in the love He desires to pour into your life.

We hope that in your busy schedule, you’ll take a “day of rest” as God did. A great thing to do is make that day Sunday and make worship part of that time. We hope you’ll take some time to join us for a service. We would love to have you.

Forgiveness – The Gift You May Still Need to Give

MikeGlanzer on January 18, 2017

The bows and paper have been tossed by now. The clothes that didn’t fit have been returned. Perhaps you are satisfied with all the gifts you gave and received. We hope so. We all love the satisfaction and joy of knowing that the recipient likes what we gave them. But maybe some of us forgot a very important gift. This gift would benefit the recipient in immeasurable ways, while also liberating the giver from increasing bondage, providing vivid testimony to the gospel, and showcasing Christ-like love to the unsaved world. What gift could do all this? It’s the gift of forgiveness.

In his book Unpacking Forgiveness, Chris Brauns helps us understand that forgiveness is not only right (in that it glorifies God by obeying His will), but it is also best. God, as the standard of holiness and goodness, will only require of His people those things which are best for them. Our joy is completely full only when we live in submission to God’s design for our lives. And part of God’s good design for us is forgiveness to those who’ve sinned against us. Forgiveness is not a bitter pill to swallow; it is the doorway to maximum joy and peace.

Our ability to forgive others is a result of God’s forgiveness of us, and our desire to forgive others is based entirely on His forgiveness of us (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13). Brauns highlights three ways in which our forgiveness must mirror God’s forgiveness of all those who’ve been redeemed:

1. Forgiveness is gracious (Eph. 2:8,9; 2:4; I John 4:10).God’s forgiveness toward us is a gift motivated by His love for us (Eph. 2:4). But though this gift is graciously offered to all, this gift wasn’t free: God paid for it with the blood of His Son’s death (I John 4:10). In the same way, our forgiveness of others must be freely offered even though it is costly. There is nothing that we have done or ever could do to receive God’s forgiveness; He graciously offers it because He is gracious. Our offer of forgiveness toward others must not be dependent upon their efforts, their remorse, or anything else we want them to do, feel, or say. And it will be costly. We will need to die to ourselves, our desire for revenge, and our pride.

2. Forgiveness is conditional.God’s forgiveness is graciously offered to all, but it’s only given to those who repent and believe (Acts 20:21). God’s forgiveness is dependent; it is conditional. Like any present, God’s gift of forgiveness in Christ must be accepted, or “opened.” As we graciously offer forgiveness to those who have legitimately wronged us, we pray and plead that they will accept it by humble repentance, just as God pleads with all to accept His forgiveness by repentance. Forgiveness is conditional in that both parties involved must be committed to the new life together. Forgiveness is not possible where humility is not present.

3. Forgiveness is a commitment. When God’s gracious offer of forgiveness (that is motivated by His love and costs the death of His Son) is accepted through repentance and faith, God justifies that person. He commits that He will no longer hold that person’s sin against them. There is a legal transaction that frees that person from the condemnation and punishment that was deserved. When we forgive another individual, we make a similar commitment. We enter into an agreement that, though wrong was done, we will no longer hold that sin against that person. Our forgiveness has freed them from the debt that they had accrued.

And this commitment is not temporary or insignificant. True forgiveness means that we are committing to never bring up the offense again – not to that person, not to another person, not to God, and not to ourselves. This is the commitment that God makes to us in Christ. He commits to remove our sin “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). What tremendous hope is found in this truth! “If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.” (Psalm 130:3,4)

Of course, forgiveness does not mean that all consequences of wrongdoing are immediately eliminated. Because sin affects others, consequences of sin must sometimes be carried out. And it is in this very process where forgiveness can be most sweetly displayed: Those who are truly repentant and have been forgiven are most ready to accept the consequences of their sin.

Forgiveness frees us from the captivity of revenge. This world tells us that revenge is our right, and that we ought to get even with those who’ve wronged us. But this is in direct contrast to God’s Word. See, in God’s economy, those who forgive others are carrying out the very essence of the gospel. Those who have been forgiven are to be the ones who forgive, and they are to forgive in the very same way they’ve been forgiven. As a result, joy and peace will flood into our lives.

So, what is forgiveness? As author Chris Brauns has said, it is “a commitment by the offended to pardon graciously the repentant from moral liability and to be reconciled to that person, although not all consequences are necessarily eliminated.” If you forgot to give this important gift, consider giving that gift to some family members, coworkers, neighbors, and friends right away this year. You just might be the greatest benefactor of the gift you give another.

If we can be of help to you as you struggle with your hurt, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

First Baptist Plattsmouth